Runaway ‘drunk driver’ crashes car into Nigerian carnival crowd, killing at least 14 revelers and injuring 29
- A driver is understood to have lost control of the car on a crowded road
- Came when people gathered to see a motorcycle parade at the Calabar Carnival
- Images shared online after the incident showed bodies strewn across the street
- The car is said to have been traveling at high speed when it went through security
At least 14 people died and 29 were injured after a runaway car smashed into a crowd during a folk carnival in Nigeria.
A driver is said to have lost control of the car on a crowded street in the southern city of Calabar, the state capital of Cross River, as people gathered to watch a motorcycle parade at the Calabar Carnival.
Images shared online after the horror incident showed bodies strewn in the street.
The biker show is one of the highlights of Carnival, which is itself known as one of Africa’s biggest street festivals. The annual event has regularly attracted people from across Nigeria and beyond since it began almost in 2004.
A driver reportedly lost control of the car on a crowded street in the southern city of Calabar
At least 14 people died and 29 were injured after the driver reportedly lost control of his vehicle
But Maikano Hassan, the local commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps, said: “The incident occurred when a Toyota Camry lost control and crashed into (a) crowd of spectators.”
He added that the car was traveling at high speed as it went through security.
Three girls and two boys are said to have been injured in the accident.
Cross River Governor Ben Ayade ordered the parade to be canceled and the driver arrested, according to his spokesman Christian Ita.
Mr Ita said the governor offered his condolences to the victims and their families and ordered an immediate investigation into the crash.
He also ordered police to investigate how the driver got into an area that was said to have been closed due to the carnival.
Scenes of panic as thousands try to flee after the horror incident at the popular Calabar Carnival
The biker show is one of the highlights of Carnival, which is itself known as one of Africa’s biggest street festivals
Pictures and video footage from the crime scene showed numerous people helping the injured after the incident
The father of a 15-year-old boy who was injured in the incident told the BBC the car was driven “recklessly”.
Masa Kutama said: “The driver had swerved from left to right and when he got to where the crowd was standing he started spraying money on the street. The crowd rushed to pick up the money and then the ugly incident happened.
His son survived the incident but was left with scratches on his face and lacerations on his thigh.
Mr Kutama added: “We were at the Naval Hospital last night – they treated him and gave us medicine and later discharged him. He is currently home safe and sound.”